Donna Shalala leads a question and answer session following Bill Clinton's speech at University of Miami

Though he admitted missing his role in the White House, Clinton said he's realized he can often get more accomplished now than he could as president, without the red tape of politics slowing him down. Under the William J. Clinton Foundation, he's brokered deals with snack and soda companies to keep them out of school in a fight against childhood obesity and negotiated to get cheaper AIDS drugs the Bahamas. The 42nd president of the U.S. said citizens must do a better job at cultivating partners in the world, instead of adversaries. "It is never possible to kill, jail or occupy all your adversaries," he said drawing cheers from students. "We must try to have a world with more partners and few enemies." When asked what he would do if were president now, Clinton said he would "move to a different course on Iraq. I would essentially do what the Iraq Study Group recommended." He said he would cut the number of troops in Iraq, but send more to Afghanistan to prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for terrorism. A massive effort toward a "clean, green independent energy efficient environment" also topped his list. University of Miami President and former Clinton Cabinet member Donna Shalala served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Iran in the 1960's.

Caption: Former President Bill Clinton, left, hugs Donna Shalala, president of the University of Miami, before speaking to graduating students at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. Thursday, March 1, 2007. Photo: Lynne Sladky

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Former President Bill Clinton told college students Thursday they were inheriting an unequal, unstable and unsustainable world.

"Half the world's people still live on less than $2 a day, a billion people have no access to clean water, a billion go to bed hungry every night," Clinton told about 7,000 University of Miami students at their spring convocation.

Clinton gave students plenty to be concerned about, warning of global warming, the health care crisis, the Iraq war and even addressing student concerns about job outsourcing. But he also outlined a plan for global change and challenged students to form their own answers to the world's problems - even in small ways.

"If you are a mentor to a kid who needs a helping hand ... it all counts," Clinton said. "Part of living in this country is some sort of service."

Though he admitted missing his role in the White House, Clinton said he's realized he can often get more accomplished now than he could as president, without the red tape of politics slowing him down.

Under the William J. Clinton Foundation, he's brokered deals with snack and soda companies to keep them out of school in a fight against childhood obesity and negotiated to get cheaper AIDS drugs the Bahamas.

The 42nd president of the U.S. said citizens must do a better job at cultivating partners in the world, instead of adversaries.

"It is never possible to kill, jail or occupy all your adversaries," he said drawing cheers from students. "We must try to have a world with more partners and few enemies."

When asked what he would do if were president now, Clinton said he would "move to a different course on Iraq. I would essentially do what the Iraq Study Group recommended."

He said he would cut the number of troops in Iraq, but send more to Afghanistan to prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for terrorism. A massive effort toward a "clean, green independent energy efficient environment" also topped his list.

He drew several standing ovations from students and warmly embraced his former secretary of health and human services and UM president, Donna Shalala, who led a question and answer session following Clinton's 30 minute speech.

"It empowered me a little that I can actually do something to improve this country," freshman Felipe Yanez said after the speech.

The former president only briefly mentioned his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who recently announced she is running for president in 2008. He marveled at how their roles had changed as she advances in politics and he in social service, saying "it's like we changed roles on the dance floor."

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Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace CorpsSenator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical ClearanceThe purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" againThe LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

PCOL readership increases 100%Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace CorpsPCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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Story Source: Florida Times-Union

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Iran; University Administration; Presidents - Clinton

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